composite technician

director of business development

program manager

manufacturing engineer

quality assurance inspector

Rock West Composites

Let me start off by saying that I really liked everyone I worked with here, I felt like I could go to anyone for help and support and they would be open to help. The work itself was also very interesting and I enjoyed it and learned a lot.
My issues with the company come with the pay. When I started I was given the base pay of 17 an hour which I understood and agreed with, and over a year of working there I eventually got up to 18. Then during my employee review I was told I had advanced to a level 3, which was listed as having a pay range of 22-27 an hour, but they only gave me a raise of 18.5 an hour and said that was generous for my position, while the actual pay range was listed on the paper they placed right in front of me. I worked on the more complex projects in the company, and some of the most tedious projects in the company, and did a very over the top amount of work to make sure they met deadlines including working on off days and late nights. I got all the projects in a good place at the end of the year and was rewarded by getting laid off. I didn't realize how criminally underpaid I was until I applied for new jobs where I am now making almost double what I did at Rock West. 


I worked here for about a year and a half as a composite technician. I got laid off in January 2024 cause they claimed they were over-staffed and didn't have many customer jobs lined up, despite them claiming on many occasions beforehand that 2024 was looking very promising for the business .
The pay wasn't great. Started at 18 dollars an hour and eventually got up to 20 dollars an hour before I got laid off. It's decent for entry level but in the long run that just isn't really that much money in todays world here in Utah.
Management constantly makes you come in on your days off as well as staying and working past your shift during the week. I often found myself working 50-60 hours a week. Sure overtime is nice but work/life balance is important. I found it hard to have a life outside of work. 
There weren't really any promotion or advancement opportunities within the company unless you go get a degree in engineering or business management and either become an engineer or program manager. Had I not been laid off I would have been an entry level composite tech  forever.

The work culture is unmatched.  The leadership team is transparent, direct, and most importantly they listen to employee needs.  The products we build are exciting (especially the deep space structures).  Rock West is an employee owned company so the ESOP buys back shares from the original owners and distributes to existing employees.  Strong financials and strong growth forecast.  A team of overachievers who are passionate about the products we make.  100% employer paid medical and dental! 

San Diego focuses on R&D/prototype products which allows us to work on a variety of different programs throughout the year.  Our team is constantly exploring new processes, new materials, and new ideas.  


I worked for Rock West for about 6 years. I came into this field as green as they come, but with a strong work ethic and desire to learn and grow. Rock West invested in me and grew me as a person and employee. The atmosphere is fun and always pushing forward as to see what we can develop and deliver for our customers. The leadership is respectful and has a team spirit. I was pushed to grow and proud of what we were able to accomplish. Great place to work as a women engineer; respectful and empowering. The best was to describe my time there was I was able to work on really interesting projects with really cool people. Some of the brightest minds I've met, working together. 

Rock West has been a great place to work so far. Everyone has supported me from recruitment up through training and into the job so far. Future growth potential is strong and I have already started integrating with the culture here. 

Very supportive business structure from the CEO all the way down. Personal and professional growth is strongly encouraged and supported. 

The 9/80 schedule has been great after getting adjusted. Benefits are exceptional once they kick in after 90 days. I spend a lot of time at the computer, but breaks are encouraged. 

Overall, it's very relaxed but business focused. We aren't micro-managed and trusted to get our duties completed. We have all types of people and cultures and is very inclusive. 

The leadership team is very caring and understanding. The products and programs we cover are exciting.  The team is very seasoned, and they know composites well.  Company has strong financials and is set up to grow at a rapid pace.  

The work culture is something completely different than most manufacturers I've worked for.  

I chose to work at Rock West Composites because......
The product line and their expertise in composites was exciting and appealing to me. 
The benefit package is very competitive (RWC covers the employee's med./dental at 100% plus it's an Employee-owned company) 
The location.  I can ride my bike to work. 

Rock west is a dynamic workplace. Depending on the role, your day to day can be somewhat repetitive, but those positions are few and far between. My role has changed various times in my years at Rock West. Management is always willing to create new roles when needed and promote from within to fill new roles and the roles of those who have also been promoted. The business is varied from Aerospace and Defense contracts to Commercial applications and space Companies. Even on down to hobbyists in their garage. This provides stability to the company as the economy changes year over year they are able to continue to grow with multiple sources of income.

Working at Rock West has been an incredible experience! My role is challenging in all the right ways, keeping me engaged and constantly learning. I love that I get to tackle meaningful work while growing both personally and professionally.
One of the best parts of this job is the people—I have the best work friends who make every day enjoyable and collaborative. The leadership team is kind, approachable, and truly listens to employee feedback. They support growth and genuinely care about both the success of the company and the well-being of the team.
If you're looking for a place where you can be challenged, feel valued, and work with an amazing group of people, this is the place to be!

It's production/manufacturing work.  If you like working with your hands and making things then this could work for you.  You'll need to be able to follow work instructions and direction from your supervisor but it's not hard or back breaking work.  I can't speak on other supervisors but my supervisor was flexible and reasonable- he would work with me on personal things as they came up. 

The benefits are great.  They cover medical and dental so the premiums don't come out of you pay check.  Work hours are 1st shift with every other Friday off. 

This is such a great company to work for. My supervisor and manager are great, I get a lot of support from them, they push me to become a better person and most importantly a better professional. We have constant trainings and communication, even directly from the CEO.
They always take care of employees; we usually have fun activities such as raffles or small competitions where we can get prizes. 
This company has given me the opportunity to grow in every possible way and to have fun at the same time.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Composite technician 5 salaries reported	$25.40 per hour
Director of business development 5 salaries reported	$161,500 per year
Program manager 13 salaries reported	$128,269 per year
Manufacturing engineer 7 salaries reported	$131,429 per year
Quality assurance inspector 8 salaries reported	$31.25 per hour

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